Virginia Tech Basketball: Hokies on the right path in the ACC
The Virginia Tech Hokies are coming off back-to-back seasons in the NCAA Tournament as head coach Buzz Williams has something special brewing in Blacksburg.
The Virginia Tech Hokies have created quite the buzz this past couple of seasons. They posted a 21-12 record (10-8 ACC) in 2017-18. The year prior they went 22-11 record (10-8 ACC). With back-to-back seasons of double-digit wins in the toughest conference in the country and two NCAA tournament appearances to show for it, this next season could be the ultimate test.
The Hokies return four starters from last year’s squad, including guard Justin Robinson. Robinson is coming off a second-team All-ACC selection after leading the team in scoring (14.0 points per game). He also led the team in assists per game (5.6). Now, with experience under their belt, the Virginia Tech Hokies look to be on the right path.
The biggest addition to the Virginia Tech roster was freshman Nickeil Alexander-Walker (NAW). He was fourth on the team in scoring (10.7 points per game) and third in rebounds at 3.8 per contest. He was a jumpstart to the Hokies offense in 2017-18 but certainly not a bigger X-Factor than returning reserve Chris Clarke.
In his junior season, Clarke put up 8.2 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game while shooting 57.4 percent from the field and 42.4 percent from 3-point range. His production was down as were his minutes, but he still appeared in all 33 games for the Virginia Tech Hokies last season. Eight players on this year’s squad appeared in at least 28 games for the Hokies, a testament to the growing depth head coach Buzz Williams has built.
The Virginia Tech Hokies made it to the NCAA Tournament, but they lost in the first round 86-83, to the Alabama Crimson Tide. They got 59 points from their starters but the bench had just 24 points. The Crimson Tide’s bench put up 36 points in the game on the other hand.
Reinforcements are on the way
Virginia Tech doesn’t currently have any players signed to their 2019 recruiting class, but their incoming class of 2018 recruits should hold down the fort.
Landers Nolley, Jon Kabongo and Jarren McAllister are three players that have signed letters of intent play basketball for the Hokies next season. Nolley is a member of ESPN’s 2018 Top 100 class and was named the 6A State Player of the Year in Georgia this past season. He averaged 29.8 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 3.0 steals per game last year. He’s a proven scorer who shot 50 percent from the floor and 42 percent from 3-point range in 2017-18.
Kabongo is a 6-foot-2, 180-point guard out of Canada. He attended Putnam Science Academy (CT) last season but was sidelined due to injury. He is currently rated as the 27th overall point guard by ESPN. Kabongo, who is the brother of former Texas point guard Myck Kabongo, will add depth to the Virginia Tech backcourt. Wabisa Bede and Tyrie Jackson averaged 8.3 and 7.2 minutes per contest as reserves last season.
McAllister is a 6-foot-4, 185-pound forward from Heritage, North Carolina. He averaged 17.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.2 steals per game in his senior season. He’s a wing player who will give the Hokies rotation some much-needed athleticism next year.
Next: Updated Preseason Top 25 for 2018-19
All in all, things are looking up for the Virginia Tech Hokies heading into 2018-19. They’ve got the experience and the depth to make another run at the NCAA Tournament. Ty Outlaw was granted a sixth year of eligibility after sitting this year due to injury, so this time around, they should go further.